Cut on the Tongue: How to Care for Your Child

Most tongue cuts heal quickly. The health care provider checked your child's tongue, examined the teeth, and decided that stitches weren't needed. Small changes in the diet can make your child more comfortable while the wound heals.

• You can give medicine for pain if your health care provider says it's OK. Use these medicines exactly as directed:

  • acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or a store brand)OR

  • ibuprofen (such as Advil®, Motrin®, or a store brand). Don't give to babies under 6 months old.

• While your child's wound is healing:

  • Give your child ice shavings or ice pops to soothe the pain and control swelling.

  • If the wound is bleeding, either apply pressure by holding the tongue between the fingers with gauze or a clean cloth or hold something cold like ice or an ice pop on the tongue for a few minutes at a time.

  • Offer a diet of soft foods that are easy to eat. Avoid hard foods that make crumbs, which could get into the wound.

  • Avoid salty and spicy foods that might sting.

  • Your child shouldn't drink through a straw for about a week or until the wound is fully healed.

  • Help your child rinse the mouth with water after snacks and meals.

  • Brush teeth gently and try to keep the toothbrush away from the cut.

• Make sure your child's tetanus vaccine is up to date.

• The wound or the area around it is very red, swollen, or painful.

• Yellow or greenish pus drains from the wound.

• Your child has a fever.

• The wound starts bleeding and doesn't stop, even after light pressure or something cold is applied.

• Your child has trouble swallowing because the tongue is swollen.

When do tongue cuts needs stitches? Some tongue cuts heal on their own, but others need stitches to close them. A cut needs stitches when it:

• doesn't stop bleeding after pressure is applied

• is large or deep enough to trap pieces of food

• goes all the way through the tongue

What happens as the tongue wound heals? At first, the wound might be red and the tongue might be swollen. The cut may ooze a small amount of bloody or clear fluid. As the wound heals, it may itch slightly and look pale or white.